Expedia plans job announcement for Thursday

Expedia Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE) is planning to announce a “significant hiring initiative” during a 10:30 a.m. news conference Thursday at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, according to a company news release.

Bellevue, Wash.-based Expedia Inc., parent company to Expedia.com and Hotels.com, plans to have representatives from its corporate and local offices at the event, said Expedia spokesman Tom Heapes, who declined to say how many positions would be announced at the event. According to www.expediajobs.com, 36 jobs are open in Springfield currently, including an operations center recruiter for Hotels.com, senior software engineer for Expedia North America and 18 Expedia Inc. hotel partner support agents.

Gov. Jay Nixon will be in Springfield to speak during the news conference, said press secretary Scott Holste, who said the only information being released at this time was in the Expedia news release.

State Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, has said Expedia planned on adding jobs because of a bill signed by Nixon on July 8, which exempts online travel agencies from paying municipalities’ hotel and motel sales taxes. Nodler said he'll be on hand for the announcement.

In February, Expedia signed a five-year lease to occupy 59,000 square feet in the former Springfield-Branson National Airport terminal building. The lease takes effect this fall.[[In-content Ad]]